(Photo: Brendan Belfield/WCSN)
ASU entered their Sunday matchup with Oregon without a win in conference play (0-3-1) and it left the same way with a 1-0 defeat. The Sun Devils had many opportunities in those previous conference matchups, but timely mistakes cost them. The same could be said for today’s match with Oregon, as the Ducks took advantage of timely ASU mistakes.
Oregon boasts one of the best defenses in the Pac-12, and they displayed it by not allowing ASU to get any offensive rhythm. This season, the Ducks flaunt an impressive seven shutout games thanks to sophomore goalkeeper Leah Freeman who had eight saves in today’s match.
The first 19 minutes was a slow burner; neither team could get into their set-pieces. ASU tried to be the aggressor in the 20th minute when freshman forward Keri Matthews received a great outlet pass to get close inside the box, where she smashed it towards the goal, but Freeman was there to take the full impact.
The Ducks offense during this span played sloppy, earning three offsides penalties. The ASU defense has had moments of a lapse to cause blown leads and other miscues this season. Yet, the first 33 minutes saw the Sun Devils cut down on those mistakes; but the next minute was a different story.
Freeman kicked a missile from her box past midfield for redshirt senior forward Kess Elemore to strike. Elemore would initially drive right only to cut back towards the middle at the top of the box where she walloped one. The shot would deflect off an ASU defender’s heel to cause Sun Devils’ freshman goalkeeper Birta Gudlaugs to barely miss it under her for a 1-0 Ducks lead.
Towards the end of the half, the Sun Devils tried to get top goal scorer, senior forward Nicole Douglas, some opportunities to gather momentum. Douglas entered the match on a seven-game goal streak and has been essentially ASU offense at the beginning of Pac-12 play. However, the Ducks held the leading goal scorer in the nation and ASU scoreless in the first set.
The second half began similar to the first as Oregon continued to suffocate the Sun Devils’ set pieces. ASU had soft offensive pressure. Whether it was soft passes or shots that directly beamed right into Freeman’s hands, they couldn’t make the Ducks uncomfortable.
A bright spot was the defense for ASU as they showcased their ability to protect the box consistently, something that has been a problem lately. Gudlaugs did an exceptional job of knowing when to come off her line and attack the one-on-one chances that the Ducks had. Whether it was leaping at corner kicks or staying in front of shots, Gudlaugs built a wall.
As the match progressed, the more ASU tried to get Douglas going on the offensive end. There was an excellent cross in the 63rd minute that saw Douglas get behind the defense to get a shot, but Freeman just barely got a hand on it. The aggressive pursuit by Douglas did not stop as she would attack any opportunity she got, whether it outside the box, streaking down the middle for a header, or on corner kicks, she always found the ball near the penalty area.
Nevertheless, again, the Ducks left that dangerous stretch at a standstill, not conceding a goal. In the second half, the Oregon defense did not break as any ASU offensive action did not deter them.
ASU had opportunities late both by Douglas. In the 87th minute, she got the ball outside the box and immediately shot it but to no avail. Then, the final 60 seconds had Douglas in the right corner, but the Ducks defense flocked around her as three Oregon defenders attacked her and stole the ball to win the game 1-0.
Oregon did a great job of shutting down Douglas, not allowing her any comfort out on the pitch. The Sun Devils struggle to find any offense outside of Douglas, as no other player has more than one goal in Pac-12 play. This Friday, ASU will travel back home, still looking for their first conference win against a tough Washington State club.
